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Meaningful dialogue

Pioneer Press

Posted:
08/19/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT

Updated:
08/19/2013 03:57:22 PM CDT

Three letters (Aug. 15) clearly demonstrate the problems of trying to have a reasonable discussion centering on race in America. Each letter tries to compare the Trayvon Martin case to the beating of a 26-year-old white man by black gang members on St. Paul's East Side. Each also questions the integrity or sincerity of black leaders for not being equally outraged by the latter incident.

No black leader has defended the action of the gang members by saying they had a right to question the presence of the white man in their neighborhood. No black leader has called for or tried to defend a state law that would have the unquestionable consequence of making it quite likely that visitors of an ethnicity not the majority in any neighborhood would have to "know his/her place" in order to avoid suspicion and serious harm. In the Trayvon Martin case, non-black leaders did both.

Until the people in this country learn the difference between the words "bias," "prejudice," "bigotry" and "racism," and until the majority quits trying to convince itself that suffering some perceived media slight is equal to the effects of hundreds of years of slavery and racist laws and attitudes, there will be no meaningful dialogue on race in America.

Tom Baldwin, Falcon Heights

Due diligence

In a typical and proper business transaction of $1 billion, you perform due diligence on the people and entities involved before you make commitments.

There are a number of quality business schools that can provide education on the process to Minnesota's elected officials.

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I'd rather have the team move than have over-burdened taxpayers pay for a stadium.

Dale Tennison, St. Paul

Cancel the stadium

It's time to "cut bait" on the Vikings stadium.

The recent court decision in New Jersey provides clear evidence that we cannot trust the Vikings owners to fund the stadium. The failure of electronic pull-tabs to generate enough income for the stadium provides clear evidence that the citizens of Minnesota do not want to fund the stadium. It is time to cancel the new stadium.

Yes, we have sunk some money into it already, but it is best to not throw good money after bad. As the fisher-person would say, cut bait and move on.